Increment In PM10 Research Articles

Short-term associations of PM10 attributed to biomass burning with respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions in Peninsular Malaysia.

Biomass burning (BB) is a major source of air pollution and particulate matter (PM) in Southeast Asia. However, the health effects of PM smaller than 10 µm (PM10) originating from BB may differ from those of other sources. This study aimed to estimate the short-term association of PM10 from BB with respiratory and cardiovascular hospital admissions in Peninsular Malaysia, a region often exposed to BB events. We obtained and analyzed daily data on hospital admissions, PM10 levels and BB days from five districts from 2005 to 2015. We identified BB days by evaluating the BB hotspots and backward wind trajectories. We estimated PM10 attributable to BB from the excess of the moving average of PM10 during days without BB hotspots. We fitted time-series quasi-Poisson regression models for each district and pooled them using meta-analyses. We adjusted for potential confounders and examined the lagged effects up to 3 days, and potential effect modification by age and sex. We analyzed 210960 respiratory and 178952 cardiovascular admissions. Almost 50% of days were identified as BB days, with a mean PM10 level of 53.1 µg/m3 during BB days and 40.1 µg/m3 during normal days. A 10 µg/m3 increment in PM10 from BB was associated with a 0.44% (95% CI: 0.06, 0.82%) increase in respiratory admissions at lag 0-1, with a stronger association in adults aged 15-64 years and females. We did not see any significant associations for cardiovascular admissions. Our findings suggest that short-term exposure to PM10 from BB increased the risk of respiratory hospitalizations in Peninsular Malaysia.

Association between residential air pollution exposure and cardiovascular risk factors in adults living in northern France.

Air pollution is associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality and an increase in cardiovascular risk factors. However, the literature data on associations between air pollution and cardiovascular risk factors are contradictory. To explore the relationship between residential exposure to atmospheric pollutants and cardiovascular risk factors (lipid biomarker and blood pressure levels). We studied a sample of 2339 adult participants in the ELISABET study from the Dunkirk and Lille urban areas of France. The mean annual exposure to atmospheric pollutants (PM10, NO2 and SO2) at the home address was estimated via an air dispersion model. The associations were probed in multivariate linear regression models. The mean NO2 level was 26.05 μg/m3 in Lille and 19.96 µg/m3 in Dunkirk. The mean PM10 level was 27.02 μg/m3 in Lille and 26.53 μg/m3 in Dunkirk. We detected a significant association between exposure to air pollutants and the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (which is a protective factor against cardiovascular diseases) level: for a 2 µg/m3 increment in PM10, the HDL level decreased by 1.72% (p = 0.0037). None of the associations with other lipid variables or with blood pressure were significant. We didn't find evidence significant associations for most of the risk factors but, long-term exposure of adults to moderate levels of ambient air pollution was associated with a decrement in HDL.

Ambient Air Particulate Matter and Hospital Admissions for Chronic Kidney Disease in China: A Nationwide Case-Crossover Study.

Incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be accelerated (could be indicated by repeated admissions to the hospital) by environmental triggers such as ambient particulate matter (PM). Additionally, hospital admission is a sensitive proxy reflecting the disease burden. However, the association of PM exposure with hospital admissions for CKD is still unknown, let alone the excess risks (ERs) in hospital admissions for CKD due to high PM level exposure. In this study, a two-stage time-stratified case-crossover study was conducted to investigate the association of ambient air PM exposure with hospital admission for CKD in 282 Chinese cities of prefecture-level or above during 2013-2017. City-specific associations of single and cumulative 0-3 days lagged exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and inhalable particles (PM10) with hospital admissions for total CKD and its subtypes were evaluated by the conditional logistic regression model, then were pooled using the random-effect model. A total of 3,490,416 hospital admissions for CKD were identified. We found that per interquartile range (IQR) increment in PM2.5 at lag02 and per IQR increment in PM10 at lag03 were associated with increases of 2.36% (95%CI: 1.58%, 3.14%) and 2.87% (95% CI:1.91%, 3.85%) in hospital admissions for total CKD, respectively. Compared to control concentrations (PM2.5: 35 μg/m3; PM10: 50 μg/m3), the largest ERs in hospital admissions for total CKD were 2.63% (95% CI: 2.15%-3.11%) and 4.45% (95% CI: 3.85%-5.06%) in association with exposure to heavily excessive PM2.5 (≥75 μg/m3) and PM10 (≥150 μg/m3), respectively. Moreover, the attributable fractions (AFs) for CKD admissions were 2.83% for PM2.5 and 3.46% for PM10 during the study period. These findings suggested that exposure to PM2.5 and PM10 is associated with substantially increased risk and burden of CKD admissions.

Urban environment in pregnancy and postpartum depression: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 12 European birth cohorts

BackgroundUrban environmental exposures associate with adult depression, but it is unclear whether they are associated to postpartum depression (PPD). ObjectivesWe investigated associations between urban environment exposures during pregnancy and PPD. MethodsWe included women with singleton deliveries to liveborn children from 12 European birth cohorts (N with minimum one exposure = 30,772, analysis N range 17,686–30,716 depending on exposure; representing 26–46 % of the 66,825 eligible women). We estimated maternal exposure during pregnancy to ambient air pollution with nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), road traffic noise (Lden), natural spaces (Normalised Difference Vegetation Index; NDVI, proximity to major green or blue spaces) and built environment (population density, facility richness and walkability). Maternal PPD was assessed 3–18 months after birth using self-completed questionnaires. We used adjusted logistic regression models to estimate cohort-specific associations between each exposure and PPD and combined results via meta-analysis using DataSHIELD. ResultsOf the 30,772 women included, 3,078 (10 %) reported having PPD. Exposure to PM10 was associated with slightly increased odds of PPD (adjusted odd ratios (OR) of 1.08 [95 % Confidence Intervals (CI): 0.99, 1.17] per inter quartile range increment of PM10) whilst associations for exposure to NO2 and PM2.5 were close to null. Exposure to high levels of road traffic noise (≥65 dB vs. < 65 dB) was associated with an OR of 1.12 [CI: 0.95, 1.32]. Associations between green spaces and PPD were close to null; whilst proximity to major blue spaces was associated with increased risk of PPD (OR 1.12, 95 %CI: 1.00, 1.26). All associations between built environment and PPD were close to null. Multiple exposure models showed similar results. DiscussionThe study findings suggest that exposure to PM10, road traffic noise and blue spaces in pregnancy may increase PPD risk, however future studies should explore this causally.

Joint effect of heat and air pollution on mortality in 620 cities of 36 countries

BackgroundThe epidemiological evidence on the interaction between heat and ambient air pollution on mortality is still inconsistent. ObjectivesTo investigate the interaction between heat and ambient air pollution on daily mortality in a large dataset of 620 cities from 36 countries. MethodsWe used daily data on all-cause mortality, air temperature, particulate matter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), PM ≤ 2.5 μm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and ozone (O3) from 620 cities in 36 countries in the period 1995–2020. We restricted the analysis to the six consecutive warmest months in each city. City-specific data were analysed with over-dispersed Poisson regression models, followed by a multilevel random-effects meta-analysis. The joint association between air temperature and air pollutants was modelled with product terms between non-linear functions for air temperature and linear functions for air pollutants. ResultsWe analyzed 22,630,598 deaths. An increase in mean temperature from the 75th to the 99th percentile of city-specific distributions was associated with an average 8.9 % (95 % confidence interval: 7.1 %, 10.7 %) mortality increment, ranging between 5.3 % (3.8 %, 6.9 %) and 12.8 % (8.7 %, 17.0 %), when daily PM10 was equal to 10 or 90 μg/m3, respectively. Corresponding estimates when daily O3 concentrations were 40 or 160 μg/m3 were 2.9 % (1.1 %, 4.7 %) and 12.5 % (6.9 %, 18.5 %), respectively. Similarly, a 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10 was associated with a 0.54 % (0.10 %, 0.98 %) and 1.21 % (0.69 %, 1.72 %) increase in mortality when daily air temperature was set to the 1st and 99th city-specific percentiles, respectively. Corresponding mortality estimate for O3 across these temperature percentiles were 0.00 % (-0.44 %, 0.44 %) and 0.53 % (0.38 %, 0.68 %). Similar effect modification results, although slightly weaker, were found for PM2.5 and NO2. ConclusionsSuggestive evidence of effect modification between air temperature and air pollutants on mortality during the warm period was found in a global dataset of 620 cities.

Effects of air pollution and residential greenness on sleep disorder: A 8-year nationwide cohort study

BackgroundSleep disorder influencing the quality of life, however, its contributing factors have not been fully identified yet. Recently the potential effects of environmental exposures like air pollution and greenness on sleep disorder have attracted attention, but the evidence in China is limited, particularly in the middle-aged and elderly. MethodsWe conducted a nationwide prospective study that included 21,878 Chinese citizens aged 45 years or above. For each participant, the 3-year averaged exposure concentrations of air pollutants (including PM10, PM2.5, PM1, NO2) and greenness (assessed by NDVI) were estimated based on residential address. We used mixed-effects logistic models to examine the associations of sustained air pollutants and greenness exposures with the occurrence of sleep disorder, and used linear mixed-effects models to assess the associations with sleep duration. Specifically, interaction effects models were employed to identify potential modificators of the above associations. ResultsA total of 39,580 survey responses were received, with the overall occurrence rate of sleep disorder was 25.7%. A 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10 and PM2.5 were associated with increased occurrence of sleep disorder at 2% (aOR = 1.02, 95%CI:1.01, 1.04) and 7% (aOR = 1.07, 95%CI: 1.04, 1.11), and were associated with reduced sleep duration by 0.07 (95% CI: 0.08, 0.05) and 0.04 (95% CI: 0.05, 0.03) hours, respectively. Residential greenness appears to the potential protective factor for sleep disorder, that a 0.1 higher of the NDVI was associated a 9% (aOR = 0.91, 95%CI: 0.86, 0.96) decreased occurrence of sleep disorder and 0.09 h (95% CI: 0.05, 0.13) longer of sleep duration. Age and residence were identified as modificators of the above significant associations. ConclusionSustained exposure to air pollutants can increase the occurrence of sleep disorder and can reduce sleep duration, while exposure to higher levels of greenness can protect sleep health from the side effects of air pollutants.

Differential effects of size-specific particulate matter on the number of visits to outpatient fever clinics: A time-series analysis in Zhuhai, China.

While many studies have investigated the adverse effects of particulate matter (PM), few of them distinguished the different effects of PM2.5, PM10, and coarse PM (PMc) on outpatients with fever. Our study aimed to estimate and compare the acute cumulative effects of exposure to three size-specific particles on the number of visits to outpatient fever clinics. To examine the association between daily PM concentrations and outpatients in fever clinics, a generalized additive Poisson model was applied, stratified by sex, age, and season. Our study included 56,144 outpatient visits in Zhuhai, from January 2020 to June 2021. On the current day, each 10 mg/m3 increment of PM10 and PMc were estimated to increase fever clinic visits by 1.74% (95% CI: 0.59%, 2.91%) and 4.42 % (2.30%, 6.58%), respectively. Cumulative effects enhanced from lag01 to lag05 for PM10 and PMc, and PMc had the strongest impact [ER = 8.92% (5.91%, 12.01%) at lag05]. Female outpatients and outpatients aged 14 years and above had an increased PM-related risk. During the cold season, significant effects could be observed for the three-size PM, while only PMc showed the impact during the warm season. Overall, the three size-specific PM exerted different effects on the fever clinic visits. Strategies to control the concentrations of PM are still necessary, especially against PM10 and PMc.

Association between maternal short-term exposure to ambient air pollution and the risk of fetal distress: A matched case-control study

BackgroundAmbient air pollution has been linked to gestational complications. However, the evidence on the relationship between air pollution and fetal distress is limited. ObjectivesTo investigate the relationship between maternal short-term air pollution exposure and fetal distress, and to identify a potential susceptible population. MethodsThis matched case-control study, involving 313 pregnancy women with fetal distress was conducted in Xi'an, the largest city in Northwest China from 2013 to 2016. Each woman with fetal distress was randomly matched with four women without fetal distress of the same age, same gestational week, and registration in the same period (n = 1252). Inverse distance-weighted (IDW) interpolation was applied to estimate maternal air pollution exposure based on the residential addresses. We employed conditional logistic regression model to evaluate the relationship between air pollutants and fetal distress. Distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) was performed to examine the exposure-response relationship between air pollutants and fetal distress. ResultsMaternal short-term exposure to PM10, PM2.5–10 (PMc), SO2, NO2, and CO was associated with increased risk of fetal distress. Each 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10, PMc, SO2 at lag 014, and NO2 at lag 010, the odds ratio (ORs) of fetal distress were 1.027 (95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.004, 1.050), 1.058 (95 % CI: 1.014, 1.105), 1.140 (95 % CI: 1.029, 1.264), and 1.158 (95 % CI: 1.046, 1.283), respectively. Similarly, with a 0.1 mg/m3 increment in CO at lag 014, the OR of fetal distress was 1.029 (95 % CI: 1.002, 1.058). Stratified analyses showed that the estimate associations of PM10, PM2.5 and CO appeared to be stronger, although not statistically significantly, among women with gestational complications. ConclusionMaternal short-term exposure to ambient air pollution may increase the risk of fetal distress. Understanding the detrimental role of air pollution in fetal distress can help us better develop preventative methods in reducing its' impact on maternal and fetal health.

Air pollution and daily mortality in the Multi-country Multi-city study: single and joint effect with heat

Background and Aim: The relationship between air pollution and daily mortality remains to be determined at a global scale. Moreover, few studies reported the interaction between air pollution and heat on mortality. Methods: We collected daily air pollution, temperature, and mortality data from the Multi-country Multi-city (MCC) network. The air pollutants included particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameter &amp;#x3c;= 10 &amp;#x3bc;m (PM10) and &amp;#x3c;= 2.5 &amp;#x3bc;m (PM2.5), ozone (O3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and sulfur dioxide (SO2). We applied a two-stage time-series analysis, with over-dispersed generalized linear models and multilevel meta-analysis. The joint effect between air temperature and pollutants was analyzed in the warm season, with product terms between non-linear air temperature and linear air pollutants. Results: We observed significant associations of air pollution with daily mortality. For instance, 10 &amp;#x3bc;g/m3 increase in the 2-day moving average of PM2.5 and O3 concentrations were associated with increases of 0.44% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.39 to 0.50) and 0.18% (95%CI, 0.12 to 0.24) in daily all-cause mortality, respectively. We also found evidence of interaction between heat and air pollution. For example, an increase in mean temperature from 75th to 99th percentile was associated with 9.0% (95%CI: 7.1%, 11.0%), 10.4% (95%CI: 8.4%, 12.4%), and 13.6% (95%CI: 10.6%, 16.6%) increases in mortality when PM10 was equal to 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles. Similarly, 10 &amp;#x3bc;g/m3 increment in PM10 was associated with a 0.24% (95%CI: 0.02%, 0.46%), 0.46% (95%CI: 0.34%, 0.59%), and 0.76% (95%CI: 0.42%, 1.11%) increases in mortality when air temperature was at 5th, 50th and 95th percentiles, respectively. Conclusions: We found robust evidence on the short-term effects of air pollution on daily mortality. We also found evidence of effect modification between air temperature and air pollutants on mortality during the warm period. Keywords: Mortality, Short-term Exposure, Temperature, Air pollution, Effect modification

Short-term and residential exposure to air pollution: Associations with inflammatory biomarker levels in adults living in northern France

IntroductionAir pollution has an impact on health, and low-grade inflammation might be one of the underlying mechanisms. The objective of the present study of adults from northern France was to assess the associations between short-term and residential exposure to air pollution and levels of various inflammatory biomarkers. MethodsThe cross-sectional Enquête Littoral Souffle Air Biologie Environnement (ELISABET) study was conducted from 2011 to 2013 in the Lille and Dunkirk urban areas of northern France. Here, we evaluated the associations between PM10, NO2 and O3 exposure (on the day of the blood sample collection and on the day before, and the mean annual residential level) and levels of the inflammatory biomarkers high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A, IL-22, and tumor necrosis factor α. ResultsWe assessed 3074 participants for the association with hsCRP and a subsample of 982 non-smokers from Lille for the association with plasma cytokine levels. A 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10 and NO2 levels on the day of sample collection and on the day before was associated with a higher hsCRP concentration (3.43% [0.68; 6.25] and 1.75% [−1.96; 5.61], respectively, whereas a 10 μg/m3 increment in O3 was associated with lower hsCRP concentration (−1.2% [−3.95; 1.64]). The associations between mean annual exposure and the hsCRP level were not significant. Likewise, the associations between exposure and plasma cytokine levels were not statistically significant. ConclusionShort-term exposure to air pollution was associated with higher serum hsCRP levels in adult residents of two urban areas in northern France. Our results suggest that along with other factors, low-grade inflammation might explain the harmful effects of air pollution on health.

Association Between Ambient Air Pollutants Exposure and Preterm Birth in Women Who Underwent in vitro Fertilization: A Retrospective Cohort Study From Hangzhou, China.

Objectives: Exposure to air pollutants has been linked to preterm birth (PTB) after natural conception. However, few studies have explored the effects of air pollution on PTB in patients who underwent in vitro fertilization (IVF). We aimed to investigate the association between ambient air pollutants exposure and PTB risk in IVF patients.Methods: This retrospective cohort study included 2,195 infertile women who underwent IVF treatment from January 2017 and September 2020 in Hangzhou Women's Hospital. Totally 1,005 subjects who underwent a first fresh embryo(s) transfer cycle were analyzed in this study. Residential exposure to ambient six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, SO2, NO2, CO, O3) during various periods of the IVF timeline were estimated by satellite remote-sensing and ground measurement. Cox proportional hazards models for discrete time were used to explore the association between pollutants exposure and incident PTB, with adjustment for confounders. Stratified analyses were employed to explore the effect modifiers.Results: The clinical pregnancy and PTB rates were 61.2 and 9.3%, respectively. We found that PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of PTB during 85 days before oocyte retrieval [period A, adjusted hazard ratio, HR=1.09, 95%CI: 1.02–1.21], gonadotropin start to oocyte retrieval [period B, 1.07 (1.01–1.19)], first trimester of pregnancy [period F, 1.06 (1.01–1.14)], and the entire IVF pregnancy [period I, 1.07 (1.01–1.14)], respectively. An interquartile range increment in PM10 during periods A and B was significantly associated with PTB at 1.15 (1.04–1.36), 1.12 (1.03–1.28), and 1.14 (1.01–1.32) for NO2 during period A. The stratified analysis showed that the associations were stronger for women aged <35 years and those who underwent two embryos transferred.Conclusions: Our study suggests ambient PM2.5, PM10, and NO2 exposure were significantly associated with elevated PTB risk in IVF patients, especially at early stages of IVF cycle and during pregnancy.

Association between long term exposure to particulate matter and incident hypertension in Spain

Exposure to air particulate matter has been linked with hypertension and blood pressure levels. The metabolic risks of air pollution could vary according to the specific characteristics of each area, and has not been sufficiently evaluated in Spain. We analyzed 1103 individuals, participants in a Spanish nationwide population based cohort study (di@bet.es), who were free of hypertension at baseline (2008–2010) and completed a follow-up exam of the cohort (2016–2017). Cohort participants were assigned air pollution concentrations for particulate matter < 10 μm (PM10) and < 2.5 μm (PM2.5) during follow-up (2008–2016) obtained through modeling combined with measurements taken at air quality stations (CHIMERE chemistry-transport model). Mean and SD concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 were 20.17 ± 3.91 μg/m3 and 10.83 ± 2.08 μg/m3 respectively. During follow-up 282 cases of incident hypertension were recorded. In the fully adjusted model, compared with the lowest quartile of PM10, the multivariate weighted ORs (95% CIs) for developing hypertension with increasing PM10 exposures were 0.82 (0.59–1.14), 1.28 (0.93–1.78) and 1.45 (1.05–2.01) in quartile 2, 3 and 4 respectively (p for a trend of 0.003). The corresponding weighted ORs according to PM2.5 exposures were 0.80 (0.57–1.13), 1.11 (0.80–1.53) and 1.48 (1.09–2.00) (p for trend 0.004). For each 5-μg/m3 increment in PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations, the odds for incident hypertension increased 1.22 (1.06–1.41) p = 0.007 and 1.39 (1.07–1.81) p = 0.02 respectively. In conclusion, our study contributes to assessing the impact of particulate pollution on the incidence of hypertension in Spain, reinforcing the need for improving air quality as much as possible in order to decrease the risk of cardiometabolic disease in the population.

Correlation of ambient particulate matters (PM10, PM2.5) with respiratory hospital admissions: a case-crossover study in Urmia, Iran

Exposure to high concentrations of ambient particulate matters (PMs) has a strong potential to cause adverse respiratory outcomes. Recent PMs increase due to the drying of Urmia Lake remains a major health challenge in the west of Iran. This study was conducted to assess the correlation of the exposure to PM10 and PM2.5 on respiratory hospitalization in Urmia, Iran. Daily hospital admissions and air pollutants data were collected during the study period. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the risks of hospitalization in exposure to PMs. There was a significant adverse effect between PM10 and asthma hospitalization based on the adjusted and unadjusted models. In the adjusted model, an interquartile range (IQR) increment of PM10 and PM2.5 increased the risk of admissions for asthma by [1.124 (1.062-1.191)] and [1.117 (1.055-1.184)], respectively. The estimated odds ratio for females was 1.5 times higher than males. A comparison of the associated risks of PM2.5 indicates a significant increase in the group aged 18-60 and >60 years. Not including asthma, a significant correlation was found between all causes of hospitalization and exposure to PM2.5 during cold seasons. Taken together, the results provide important insights into that exposure to ambient PMs were associated with an increased risk of respiratory hospitalization. Highlights A case-crossover design was used to evaluate the correlation of PMs and hospital admissions. Conditional logistic regression models were used to estimate the risks. The estimated odds ratio for females was 1.5 times higher than males. A significant correlation was found between hospitalization and PM2.5 exposure during cold seasons. Group aged 18–60 years and >60 years were faced at more risks in exposure to PM2.5.

Maternal PM10 Exposure Increases Risk for Spina Bifida: A Population-Based Case-Control Study

Limited studies have focused on the impact of ambient air pollution on spina bifida. A population-based case-control study was conducted in Liaoning Province, China to assess the associations between maternal PM10 exposures in various exposure windows and spina bifida risk. Data on spina bifida cases born between 2010 and 2015 were available from the Maternal and Child Health Certificate Registry of Liaoning Province. Controls were a random sample of healthy livebirths without any birth defects delivered in the selected five cities during 2010–2015. Ambient air monitoring data for PM10 were obtained from 75 monitoring stations in Liaoning Province. The multivariable logistic regression models were established to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We further performed sensitivity analyses by using three propensity score methods. A total of 749 spina bifida cases and 7,950 controls were included. After adjusting for potential confounders, spina bifida was associated with a 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10 during the first trimester of pregnancy (adjusted OR = 1.06, 95% CI: 1.00–1.12) and the 3 months before pregnancy (adjusted OR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.06–1.19). The adjusted ORs in the final model for the highest vs. the lowest quartile were 1.51 (95% CI: 1.04–2.19) for PM10 during the first trimester of pregnancy and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.43–2.81) for PM10 during the 3 months before pregnancy. Positive associations were found between PM10 exposures during the single month exposure windows and spina bifida. Sensitivity analyses based on two propensity score methods largely reported similar positive associations. Our findings support the evidence that maternal PM10 exposure increases the risk of spina bifida in offspring. Further, validation with a prospective design and a more accurate exposure assessment is warranted.

Long-term air pollution exposure and serum lipids and blood sugar: A longitudinal cohort study from the electricity generating authority of Thailand study

Only a few studies have investigated the association between long-term exposure to air pollution and alterations of serum lipids and blood sugar level in developing countries. The present longitudinal study examined associations between long-term air pollution exposure and serum lipids [total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)] and fasting glucose (FG) in workers of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) in the Bangkok metropolitan region (BMR) of Thailand. We performed secondary analyses using the data obtained from 1,839 participants (mean age, 58.3 years as of 2002) of the EGAT1 cohort study (2002–2012). The average concentration of each air pollutants (PM10, O3, NO2, SO2, and CO) at the sub-district level in BMR from 2002 to 2012 were estimated using the ordinary kriging method. Exposure periods were averaged to 3 months prior to laboratory testing. Linear mixed effects models were used to estimate associations between air pollution and serum lipids and blood sugar. After controlling for potential confounders, an interquartile range increment of PM10, SO2, and CO was associated with elevated LDL-C [6.6% (95%CI: 4.3, 9.0), 11.1% (7.2, 15.2), and 1.9% (1.1, 2.7), respectively] and FG [2.8% (1.5, 4.2), 6.8% (4.5, 9.1), and 1.1% (0.6, 1.5), respectively]. In addition, PM10, SO2, and CO were inversely associated with HDL-C [-1.8% (−3.7, 0.1), −3.3% (−6.2, −0.3), and −1.1 (−1.7, −0.5), respectively]. O3 was negatively associated with TC, LDL-C, TG, and FG. These findings suggest inhalation of air pollutants may increase the risk of impaired metabolism of glucose and lipids.

Systemic Inflammation (C-Reactive Protein) in Older Chinese Adults Is Associated with Long-Term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution.

There is an established association between air pollution and cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is likely to be mediated by systemic inflammation. The present study evaluated links between long-term exposure to ambient air pollution and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hs-CRP) in an older Chinese adult cohort (n = 7915) enrolled in the World Health Organization (WHO) study on global aging and adult health (SAGE) China Wave 1 in 2008–2010. Multilevel linear and logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on log-transformed hs-CRP levels and odds ratios of CVD risk derived from CRP levels adjusted for confounders. A satellite-based spatial statistical model was applied to estimate the average community exposure to outdoor air pollutants (PM with an aerodynamic diameter of 10 μm or less (PM10), 2.5 μm or less (PM2.5), and 1 μm or less (PM1) and NO2) for each participant of the study. hs-CRP levels were drawn from dried blood spots of each participant. Each 10 μg/m3 increment in PM10, PM2.5, PM1, and NO2 was associated with 12.8% (95% confidence interval; (CI): 9.1, 16.6), 15.7% (95% CI: 10.9, 20.8), 10.2% (95% CI: 7.3, 13.2), and 11.8% (95% CI: 7.9, 15.8) higher serum levels of hs-CRP, respectively. Our findings suggest that air pollution may be an important factor in increasing systemic inflammation in older Chinese adults.

Impacts of ambient air pollution on glucose metabolism in Korean adults: a Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey study

BackgroundExposure to air pollution was reported to affect glucose metabolism, increasing the risk of diabetes mellitus. We conducted an epidemiological study on glucose metabolism and air pollution by exploring the levels of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) with changes in ambient air quality, depending on the characteristics of the susceptible population.MethodsWe carried out a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative sample of 10,014 adults (4267 in male and 5747 in female) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2012 and 2013 along with data from the Korean Air Quality Forecasting System. The analysis was performed using a generalized linear model stratified by sex, age, and presence of diabetes. We assessed the changes in FBG and HbA1c associated with exposures to particulate matter (PM10), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) after controlling for confounders.ResultsThere were 1110 participants with diabetes (557 in male and 553 in female). Overall, the FBG level increased by 7.83 mg/dL (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.80–12.87) per interquartile range (IQR) increment of NO2, 5.32 mg/dL (95% CI: 1.22–9.41) per IQR increment of PM10 at a moving average of 0–6 days, and 4.69 mg/dL (95% CI: 0.48–8.91) per IQR increment of PM2.5 at a moving average of 0–5 days. HbA1c increased by 0.57% (95% CI: 0.04–1.09) per IQR increment of PM10 at a moving average of 0–60 days and 0.34% (95% CI: 0.04–0.63) per IQR increment of PM2.5 at a moving average of 0–75 days. The change in FBG and HbA1c increased more in the diabetic group, especially in males aged 65 years or more. There was a strong association between elevation in diabetes-related parameters and exposure to air pollution.ConclusionsOur study provides scientific evidence supporting that short- and mid-term exposure to air pollution is associated with changes in biological markers related to diabetes. This finding suggests that the impact of air pollution should be reflected in chronic disease management when establishing local health care policies.

The short-term associations of particular matters on non-accidental mortality and causes of death in Chiang Mai, Thailand: a time series analysis study between 2016-2018

ABSTRACT Open burnings, agricultural and forest fires, are the major sources of particulate matters (PM) in Chiang Mai during dry season. We aim to determine the association of an increased daily PM (PM10, PM2.5) and daily non-accidental mortality and causes of death in Chiang Mai. The association between PM and daily non-accidental mortality including causes of death were analyzed using a generalized linear model with Poisson distribution. The results showed that PM10 and PM2.5 were associated with daily non-accidental mortality on different lag days (adjusted RR range from 1.009–1.018 and 1.016 for each 10 µg/m3 increment of PM10 and PM2.5, respectively). The causes of death associated with PM10, PM2.5 found on different lag days were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), coronary artery disease (CAD), and sepsis. We concluded that PM10 and PM2.5 are associated with daily non-accidental mortality and causes of death were COPD, CAD, and sepsis.

The impact of measures to reduce ambient air PM&amp;lt;sub&amp;gt;10&amp;lt;/sub&amp;gt; concentrations originating from road dust, evaluated for a street canyon in Helsinki

Abstract. We have numerically evaluated how effective selected potential measures would be for reducing the impact of road dust on ambient air particulate matter (PM10). The selected measures included a reduction of the use of studded tyres on light-duty vehicles and a reduction of the use of salt or sand for traction control. We have evaluated these measures for a street canyon located in central Helsinki for four years (2007–2009 and 2014). Air quality measurements were conducted in the street canyon for two years, 2009 and 2014. Two road dust emission models, NORTRIP (NOn-exhaust Road TRaffic Induced Particle emissions) and FORE (Forecasting Of Road dust Emissions), were applied in combination with the Operational Street Pollution Model (OSPM), a street canyon dispersion model, to compute the street increments of PM10 (i.e. the fraction of PM10 concentration originating from traffic emissions at the street level) within the street canyon. The predicted concentrations were compared with the air quality measurements. Both road dust emission models reproduced the seasonal variability of the PM10 concentrations fairly well but under-predicted the annual mean values. It was found that the largest reductions of concentrations could potentially be achieved by reducing the fraction of vehicles that use studded tyres. For instance, a 30 % decrease in the number of vehicles using studded tyres would result in an average decrease in the non-exhaust street increment of PM10 from 10 % to 22 %, depending on the model used and the year considered. Modelled contributions of traction sand and salt to the annual mean non-exhaust street increment of PM10 ranged from 4 % to 20 % for the traction sand and from 0.1 % to 4 % for the traction salt. The results presented here can be used to support the development of optimal strategies for reducing high springtime particulate matter concentrations originating from road dust.

Ambient Air Pollution and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome in Korea: A Time-Stratified Case-Crossover Study.

Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is an occasional cause of unexpected mortality in infancy. While various etiological factors have been hypothesized, air pollution has been consistently presented as an environmental factor. In this study, we aimed to estimate the risk of SIDS in relation to exposure to air pollution and the effects of its modifying factors. A mortality dataset with supplementary infant mortality survey data from Statistics Korea was used and combined the concentration of ambient air pollution data from AirKorea based on the date of death and residential addresses of the SIDS cases. Odds ratios (ORs) were estimated according to birthweight, gestational age, maternal age, and infant age using a time-stratified case-crossover study design. The risk of exposure to particulate matter of less than 10 μm in diameter (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and sulfur dioxide was estimated. The number of deaths due to SIDS was 454 (253 males and 201 females). The OR per 27.8 µg/m3 increment of PM10 was 1.14 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.25) and that per 215.8 ppb of CO was 1.20 (95% CI: 1.03–1.40) in all infants. In females, an increase in NO2 and CO levels was associated with a higher risk of SIDS in low-birthweight and preterm infants. The OR per 15.7 ppb increment in NO2 was highest among preterm infants, with a value of 5.12 (95% CI: 1.27–20.63), and low-birthweight individuals, with a value of 4.11 (95% CI: 1.74–9.72), at a moving average of 0 to 3 days. In males, however, no significant association was found. In the present study, exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk of SIDS. This association was more evident in susceptible infants with a low-birthweight or in cases of preterm birth.